Collapsible sawhorse



3, 1968 E.J. DOUCETTE COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May16, 1967 INVENTOR EDMUND J DOUCETTE ATTOi/VEYS Dec. 3, 1968 E. J.DOUCETTE COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16. 1967INVENTOI? A77 7 NEYS EDMUND J DOUCETTE United States Patent 3,414,080COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE Edmund J. Doucette, 50 Monmouth Blvd., Oceanport,NJ. 07757 Filed May 16, 1967, Ser. No. 638,785 6 Claims. (Cl. 182-155)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible sawhorse having spring-biasingmeans connected between the sawhorse body and each sawhorse leg forautomatically biasing each leg upon manual guidance thereof into itsterminal mounted or travel position.

This invention relates to a collapsible sawhorse and more particularlyrelates to a sawhorse having collapsible legs which are connected to thesawhorse body by an articulated biasing connection.

In the past there have been provided a great number of models and typesof collapsible sawhorses or trestles. For the most part such acollapsible feature meant that thesawhorse could be dismantledpiece-by-piece with the artisan wasting much time and requiring muchdexterity in order to carry the multiple pieces of his finally portablesawhorse. There have been other sawhorses which have been proposed whichindeed are collapsible but only after much loosening, bending andfolding under the skillful manipulations of the artisan. It is a primaryobject of this invention to provide a collapsible sawhorse having meanson the sawhorse itself which will actually assist the artisan incollapsing the sawhorse into a single portable unit by providing abiasing force assist means for guiding and moving the sawhorse legs to aterminal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sawhorse having legswhich are permanently connected to the sawhorse body by a substantiallyuniversal connection.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art by reference to the following detaileddescription when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sawhorse in its working position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the sawhorse in its travel condition;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the biasing members andtheir associated elements;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE1; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate likeparts, the numeral indicates the sawhorse of the invention. The bodyportion of the sawhorse includes a rail 12 and a brace bar 14 supportedbelow and parallel to the rail by pairs of spacing members 16 and 18.The spacing members 16 and 18 are mutually perpendicular and are rigidlysecured to the inner faces of the rail 12 and the brace bar 14 neartheir longitudinal extremities. The said spacing members 16 and 18 arepreferably formed of metal in order to provide the sawhorse body with amaximum weight-bearing and stress withstanding capability.

As is conventional, the sawhorse 10 has a pair of legs 20 and 21 ateither end thereof. The sawhorse when in the working position has itslegs mounted so that they extend downwardly and outwardly from the innerface of the rail 12 past the longitudinal edge of the brace bar 14. Thelegs 20 and 21 are also angled outwardly toward 3,414,080 Patented Dec.3, 1968 "ice their respective ends of the body portion. Since the legsare identical, only one of the legs 20 along with its cooperatingelements on the sawhorse body will be discussed. The leg 20 is providedwith upper and lower mounting brackets 22 and 23 respectively disposedparallel to each other. Each mounting bracket is comprised of a baseplate 24 and a double-T bar 26 which is spaced therefrom by lugs 28. Thebrackets 22, 23 are rigidly mounted to the leg and an aperture 32(FIGURE 4) is provided in the plate 24 in order to allow egress of alocking screw 34 Which is in threaded engagement through the leg.

For receiving the leg brackets 22, 23 there are provided upper and lowerbody brackets 36 and 37 respectively. The bracket 36 is L-shaped andcomprised of legs 38 and 40. The bracket leg 38 is secured to the innerface of the rail 12 and as shown in FIGURE 4, is spaced from the rail 12by spacers 42. It is also connected to its adjacent sister body bracketon the rail via bars 44 which extend through apertures 46 in the spacingmember 18. As best seen in FIGURE 2, each bracket is provided with aflange 47 projecting from the outer end of the leg 40 in order to assistin guiding the leg to its mounted position. The bars 44 provide anadditional measure of reinforcement to prevent against twisting orloosening during use while the spacers 42 corresponding location of theupper leg brackets 22 at a greater distance from the leg end forincreased strength. Each bracket leg 40 is provided with arcuateidentations 48 which serve to receive the lugs 28 of the leg brackets.

The body bracket 37 is rigidly secured to the brace bar 14 with its leg40 in spaced relation opposite the longitudinal edge of the brace bar.Bars 44 are again provided between sister body brackets on the brace barand are secured in identical fashion as the brackets 36.

When the brackets 22, 23, 36 and 37 are properly engaged, they willrestrict the leg 20 from movement in any direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the leg 20. Movement by the leg in a direction awayfrom the brackets 36, 37 along its own longitudinal axis is prevented bytightening the locking screw 34 which directly bears against the bracketleg 40 through the double-T bar 26 to clamp it against the said bar 26.

In order to permanently attach the leg to the sawhorse body, a biasingmember 50 is secured on one side of the spacing member 18 by 'bolts 52and to the leg 20 by a screw 54 located intermediate the brackets 22 and23. The biasing member 50 is comprised of two parts, namely, a springclip 54 and a connecting rod 56. As best seen in FIGURE 5 the springclip 54 is composed of identical coil spring segments 58 which form aprojecting arm 60. The spring clip is secured at an angle on the spacingmember 18 so that the longitudinal axis of the projecting arm 60 liessubstantially within a plane formed by the longitudinal axes of the legs20 and 21. The projecting arm 60 is biased by the coil segments 58 tolie flat against the face of the spacing member 18. A connecting link 62is pivotally secured to the extreme end of the projecting arm 60 and ispivotal about an axis transverse to the axis of the projecting arm.

The connecting rod 56 is formed with circular loops 64, 66 at each end.Each loop forms a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the otherloop and it can be seen that when the leg mounting brackets aredisengaged from the body brackets, the leg 20 is free to move along itslongitudinal axis by overcoming the bias of spring clip 54 and also topivot about the bottom loop 66.

In operation, with the sawhorse fully assembled and ready for collapse,the locking screw 34 is loosened until the leg is unlocked. The leg canthen be pulled downwardly along its olngitudinal axis against the biasof spring clip 54 until the brackets 36 and 37 are disengaged.

Once the brackets are disengaged, the leg 20 is pivoted about the bottomloop 66 until it is substantially parallel with the rail 12 and bracebar 14. The leg is then released or preferably hand guided between therail and brace bar. During this operation the bias of the spring clip 54provides a motive force for finally locating the leg 20 in its terminaltravel position as seen in FIGURE 2. Of course, to insure that themovement of the leg ends be restricted, a belt B shown in phantom couldbe usde.

In order to erect the sawhorse, the reverse operation is performed. Theleg is manually pulled outwardly to overcome the bias of spring clip 54until the leg is clear of the rail and brace bar. The leg is thenpivoted until the leg brackets 22 and 23 are positioned just beneath therespective body brackets 36 and 37. Once again simple guidance by theartisan will suflice since the spring clip 54 will provide the finalmotive force to locate the legs in their terminal mounted position. Itis to be noted that the said motive force provided by the spring clip 54acts through its projecting arm 60 by pulling upwardly and inwardly onthe connecting rod 56 and hence the leg 20. The leg is then locked intoposition by tightening the locking screw 34.

It is seen from the above description that not only does the biasingmember 50 provide a permanent connection between the leg 20 and thesawhorse body, but it also provides a motive force for moving each legto its terminal mounted or travel position.

What has been set forth above is intended primarily as exemplary toenable those skilled in the art in the practice of the invention and itshould, therefore, be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced in other ways than asspecifically described.

What is new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A collapsible sawhorse having a trestle member and a plurality ofsupporting legs at the longitudinal end of said trestle wherein theimprovement comprises a bracing assembly below said trestle, meansconnected between said bracing assembly and an outer surface portion ofat least one of said legs for pivotally securing said leg to saidbracing assembly between an erected position wherein said leg extendsdownwardly and outwardly from said trestle and a travel position whereinthat leg is nested parallel to and beneath said trestle and said meansbiasing said leg to said erected position or to said travel positiondepending upon which of said positions said leg is in closest proximity.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said bracing assemblyincludes receiving brackets which receive inserting brackets carried bysaid legs to detachably secure said legs in said first position.

3. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said legs carry lockingmeans for locking said inserting brackets to said receiving bracketswhen said brackets are engaged with each other.

4. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said receiving bracketsinclude a downwardly depending leg having arcuate indentations thereinand said inserting brackets include lugs for engagement in saidindentations.

5. A collapsible sawhorse having a trestle member and a plurality ofsupporting legs at the longitudinal end of said trestle wherein theimprovement comprises a bracing assembly below said trestle, a springclip mounted on said bracing assembly, a connecting rod pivotallyconnected between said spring and each said leg, said spring clip andsaid connecting rod pivotally securing said leg to said bracing assemblybetween an erected position wherein said leg extends downwardly andoutwardly from said trestle and a travel position wherein that leg isnested parallel to and beneath said trestle, said spring clip and saidconnecting rod biasing said leg to said erected position or to saidtravel position depending upon which of said positions said leg is inclosest proximity.

6. The invention as described in claim 5 wherein said spring clip isbiased inwardly substantially within a plane formed by the longitudinalaxes of the erected legs at one end of said sawhorse.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,144,914 8/1964 Tjosvoll 182-1553,269,487 8/1966 Larson l82155 3,282,379 11/1966 Jones 182l55 REINALDOP. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

